Bipolar Disorder
If you are close to someone with Bipolar Disorder, you may notice mood swings from extreme low (depression) to extreme high (mania) or less severe mania, known as hypomania.
These are some signs:
During high mood swings
High levels of energy
Agitation or impatience
Highly excited and feel invincible, like they can attempt anything
Difficulty sleeping
Display impulsive behaviour such as saying unusual things, spending substantial amounts of money or engaging in risky activities such as reckless sex, dangerous driving
Talk rapidly or jumping between topics and ideas
Appear distracted or make decisions quickly
During low mood swings
Be sad and cry
No motivation for activities such as maintaining personal hygiene or attending outings
Feel more tired; spending more time in bed
Difficulty with sustaining attention
Forgetfulness
Worry more than usual
Think negatively of themselves and their life
Thinking may appear strange
Display a flat emotion
In severe cases, experience psychosis or catatonic depression seen by inability to talk, move or take action
** As the high or low mood improves, they slowly start acting more themselves again.
There are a lot of misconceptions around bi-polar (and other mental health disorders), so it’s important to understand that it effects people differently, and its not always in the extremes like we are used to seeing in movies. People with bipolar can absolutely be functional, hold steady jobs and be productive. Not only is the experience different from person to person, but there are also multiple types of bipolar, so a lot of the information that we hear about this disorder is not all that accurate.
If you would like to know more about bipolar, or any other mental health disorder, it is important to get your information from a qualified expert (not google or TikTok!). If you are close with someone who has a mental health disorder like bipolar, it can also be very beneficial to chat to a professional who can give you some tips on how to best support them.
If you find you would like some extra support or information, please feel free to contact us on 8838-8687 or book an appointment online and come in to see one of our friendly Psychologists.